WAAW 2025

WORLD AMR AWARENESS WEEK 2025

From 18–24 November 2025, Rwanda marked World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) under the global theme “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.” The national campaign was led by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) through a strong One Health approach, aligning with the National Action Plan on AMR (NAP-AMR 2025–2029) and the One Health Strategic Plan 2022–2026.

OAZIS Health proudly joined the world to advance public awareness, community engagement, and evidence-informed action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR); a growing threat to human, animal, and environmental health.

Why AMR Matters

AMR occurs when microorganisms no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing illness, deaths, and healthcare costs. In Rwanda and globally, misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, weak infection prevention and control (IPC), and limited diagnostics accelerate resistance. WAAW 2025 focused on translating awareness into practical action across sectors.

What We Did During WAAW 2025

During World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025, themed “Act now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” OAZIS Health collaborated with the Government of Rwanda, led by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and the Ministry of Health, along with key One Health stakeholders including WHO Rwanda, the Fleming Fund, Partners in Health, Gorilla Doctors, and the Rwanda Paediatric Association.

We implemented comprehensive activities across human, animal, and environmental health sectors, including an infection prevention educational visit to Kibagabaga Level 2 Teaching Hospital, a multidisciplinary Scientific Day on antibiotic stewardship, and an X-Space discussion on Rwanda’s National Action Plan (NAP 2025–2029) that reached 876 live listeners and over 4,300 total tune-ins. 
 
Community outreach and interdisciplinary debate competitions engaged 1,056 university students across INES Ruhengeri (350+), UR Nyagatare (450+), and UR Huye (256). Additionally, we participated in a 12-day One Health bacteriology and susceptibility testing training for 30 laboratory professionals (25 in human health and 5 in livestock) in Huye, alongside nationwide media coverage across three television stations, seven radio channels, and digital Twibbon campaigns.

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